Administrative Messages

Community Response to Parkland

We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that transpired yesterday in Parkland, FL. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

We want to assure you that our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students. This is a responsibility we take very seriously.

We have proactive plans and procedures to protect our students. We frequently conduct practice drills and constantly improve measures for responding to emergency situations. We work closely with area law enforcement to continuously review, evaluate and strengthen security at our schools.

We also want to share some tips for helping your children cope with news of such events:

Take care of yourself as a parent – make sure you have a trusted friend or family member with whom you can talk in order to process your own feelings.

Maintain consistent structures and support for your child – children feel the safest when their routines remain intact.

Let your kids take the lead in the discussion. Invite them to ask their questions so that you are only addressing their concerns and sharing that which is necessary to help them feel safe.

Encourage your child to express their feelings, not suppress them. It is important that your child feel safe in sharing their thoughts and feelings with you, even though doing so might be uncomfortable.

Validate your child’s feelings while helping them to develop healthy ways to deal with emotions such as anger, fear or sadness.

Assure your child that they are safe, but don’t over promise concerning what may happen in the future. Instead, affirm that they are loved and cared for, and that there are people working to keep them safe.

Limit your child’s exposure to the news – after a tragedy, media sites are filled with images and stories that can be difficult for children to process. Also, pay close attention to the social media sites your child may be visiting, as these sites can quickly fill with stories related to a tragedy.

Ultimately, if you are concerned about your child’s response to this or any tragic event, reach out to the school counselor for additional resources and support.

The best means to keep schools safe is to maintain healthy and open relationships between adults and children at all times. Help us remind students that they have an obligation to bring information about situations that cause them concern to adults at the school so that we can respond quickly and appropriately to protect their safety.

Students and parents can also report concerns about student or school safety to our anonymous tip line, (919) 856-1911.

Communcation Update

Posted by Dr. Greg Decker on 3/2/2017

A few weeks ago I sent you information that WCPSS is changing and customizing the way schools communicate with parents. When we need to get a message to you, you can choose the modality of communication via a text to your cell phone and/or your e-mail. Please spend a minute and go to http://www.wcpss.net/schoolmessenger to provide your settings and preferences. As cell numbers and e-mail change you can update them at this location but we also want you to contact the school since specific website only addresses the SchoolMesssenger communication system. We will only use the phone recording portion of this system for more serious and important issues. We will begin this new process now so let's get connected. We will continue to use Yahoo as well.

Important Communication Update!

Posted by Dr. Greg Decker on 2/24/2017

Parents,

I want to let you know that we are creating a new process to improve communication between the school and parents. In the past, I have provided you communication with a recorded voice message. However, with the rise of new communication technologies, people are communicating in a variety of different ways; therefore, I want you to determine the best way for you to recieve commincation from me - either e-mail or cell text message. I will reserve the voice message only for emergency situations.

Beginning this coming Monday, February 27, 2017, Sanderson will be sending a message to you either via text and/or e-mail using the current information we have on file. Monday’s message looks like Spam, so please refrain from placing it into the trash can. When the message comes, I hope you will take a few moments to follow the steps to "Opt-In" to text messages. Or, you can simply opt-in to receive text messages by texting YES to the number 67587 when you receive it.

If you do not receive any communication from me by Wednesday, March 1, 2017, we do not have a current cell number and/or e-mail information on file. In this case, you can e-mail ncwise552@wcpss.net and provide updated cell numbers and e-mail addresses, or you can call student services at 919-881-4800 and press #1 when the school recording begins. You can speak with Ms. Evans or leave her a message.

Senior Exam Info

Posted by Dr. Gregory Decker on 1/11/2017 4:00:00 PM

Seniors Only – Exam Schedule & Exemptions 1st semester 2016-17

Sanderson’s exam schedule will NOT be changed as a result of the school cancelations; therefore, Thursday, January 12, 2017, will be an exam review day for all students. Friday, we will begin our previously-shared exam schedule.

Attention seniors who qualify for exam exemptions: You MUST read and follow the directions below, no exceptions:

Thursday, January 12, 2017, is the exam review day. Seniors who are exempt from one or more TEACHER MADE EXAMS ONLY do not have to attend the exam review period on Thursday, January 12, 2017. There are NO EXAM EXEMPTIONS for CTE, NCFE and EOC exams!

If you qualify for any exam exemptions for one or more TEACHER MADE EXAMS, you must do the following:

Exam Exemption forms can be down loaded form the Sanderson Website.

You must understand the attendance requirements for any exemptions. If you were not in school or ANY reason (excused or not) on any day, that absence counts against you. The ONLY exception is one day a semester for a college visit. That paperwork must have been on file in the attendance office prior to your college visit.

Three tardies in the same class is equal to one absence, and this must be factored with other absences.

Any unexcused absence and any out of school suspensions will not allow you to be exempt for all classes.

You must print a copy of your first semester attendance from PowerSchool and turn it into the attendance office along with your Exam Exemption Form by Thursday morning January 12, 2017.

You must complete all the information on the Exam Exception Form correctly. DO NOT ASK YOUR TEACHERS TO DO THIS FOR YOU.

Because of the snow days and the timing or our currently exam schedule, you DO NOT NEED TO GET YOUR TEACHER’S SIGNATURE ON THE EXEMPTION FORM. Just turn it into the attendance office unsigned. Teachers will be teaching on Thursday morning, it is NOT acceptable for you to interrupt anyone’s classes for a signature. Teachers will sign them at a later time for verification.

Seniors must complete and turn in the follow forms 1) exam exemption form 2) a copy of your first semester attendance information From PowerSchool and 3) Senior Exception Appeal Form (if needed) forms are to be turned into the ATTENDANCE OFFICE BETWEEN 6:50 AM – 8:30 AM ON Thursday, January 12, 2017.

Administration will review the paperwork on Friday morning to verify accuracy.

Seniors who are NOT exempt from teacher-made exams will be notified by administration via e-mail.

Thursday, January 12, we all will return back to school at regular time! It will be an exam review day for all our students. This Friday we will start our exam schedule for the next several days in a row. Parents please access the exam schedule that is on our website. The testing window is from 1/18/17 – 1/24/17. If students do not have an exam in the AM or PM for the dates of 1/18-1/24 they should not attend school. Buses will run at normal times each day. Students are able to be dismissed at the end of the exam period. Supervision will be available in the auditorium for students waiting for their exams. Bag lunches will be offered each day at lunch time.

Seniors who are seeking exemptions for Teacher Made Exams must go immediately to the school home page of the school website for all the information needed.

The paperwork for qualifying for Teacher Made Exam Exemptions are all due tomorrow morning from 6:50 AM – 8:30 AM in the attendance office. Given the short turn around time we have due to weather, students do not need teachers to fill out the form, however each student must completely fill out the forms on their own at home with all pertinent information from PowerSchool.

Sincerely,

Gregory S. Decker Ed.D.

Principal

UPDATE

Attention Parents,

Yesterday I made an announcement stating that students do not have to come to school on Friday, January 13 and Tuesday, January 17th unless they were taking a Teacher Made Exam. I need to make an important correction! The correction is that ALL students need to attend school on Friday and Tuesday all day (with the only few exceptions of some seniors who have a special exam exemption). The Teachers needs this time with your child to either take an exam or conduct an extensive review of materials prior to their exam. Please go to the homepage on our website for the entire exam schedule. Please help me make sure that your child attends school on January 13th and 17th and the following exam dates as needed. I apologize for the miscommunication.